By the Power of the Holy Ghost. The Blurred Line between “Liturgy” and “Magic” in the Rituals of the Celestial Church of Christ.

Autor(en)

Hans Gerald Hödl

Abstrakt

This essay gives a typology of Prayer-Rituals used in CCC, an African autochthonous church. It is partly based on participant observation in Lomé, Togo (summer 07, 08 and 09) and Vienna, Austria (June-December 09). A sketch of the history of the church and the biography of its founder is followed by an overview on liturgical acts and rites of affliction in CCC. Afterwards a description of a ritual is given that was performed on the author’s behalf by members of a parish in Togo. Subsequently, the basic ritual elements of Sunday service are analysed with respect to their character as “rites of affliction”. In the course of the essay, parallels and differences to similar rites and rituals that can be found within the framework of Ewe, Fon and Yorùbá traditional religions and possible typologies of the rituals in CCC are discussed. Whilst their “Africa-ness” is stated in different degrees by scholars and the opinion of CCC being an African Traditional Religion disguised as Christianity is held firmly by members of other Christian churches, these views are rigidly rejected by members of CCC. One question remains: what exactly is to be understood as Africa-ness? Is it “magic”, as members of CCC conceive of West African Traditional Religions?

Organisation(en)

Institut für Religionswissenschaft

Seiten

19-50

Anzahl der Seiten

32

Publikationsdatum

2011

ÖFOS 2012

603909 Religionswissenschaft

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/by-the-power-of-the-holy-ghost-the-blurred-line-between-liturgy-and-magic-in-the-rituals-of-the-celestial-church-of-christ(973973a6-ff2b-46ac-a393-e7e656ca322d).html